When the ground thaws out, I'm pulling out my hedge line. This was planted in the spring of 2009, they are Green Giant Thujas. They were rated either Zone 4 or 5, depending on who you asked. I gambled, and lost. They have not grown the last two years. Last year, they never fully greened up and have brown tops on most of the plants the whole year. Now, with a colder than average winter with very little snow cover, they are toast. They get to meet the Bolens' rear hitch and a chain when the ground thaws.

I have 45 techny arborvitaes planted along the ditch on the side yard, but want something taller for the main yard because it borders a County Road that is busy at times. This is strictly a privacy hedge that I need to be at least 15 feet tall, interlocking without die back, and green year around.

The leading candidate so far is Canadian Hemlock.

The line is on the low part of the property, but the soil is so sandy that it means little. It has flooded twice since I moved here, the longest being for 3 hours. In the first pic, south is slightly left of the direction the camera is pointed, so the line gets full sun until evening, when the white pines along the road block it out.

I plan on re-tilling, dishing out the soil so it is 6" lower than the lawn, laying down plastic cut back 4" away from the plant, and filling with mulch near level. Watering will be done by soaker hose.

If anyone has another plant to suggest, or experience with Canadian Hemlock, (good or bad) please chime in.

Shrub line is in red, technys are the blue line, black is the property line in the following pic. Sorry about the wavy lines, the wireless mouse must be dirty. (or I'm on my third Buffalo Trace)

I'm no expert.
But, I'd say those plants should have grown!
Maybe bad soil, too much drainage or not enough water.
Maybe salt run off from the road.
Or those big pines are out competing them?
Or, maybe the way they were planted.
Did you trim them back when you planted them?

Why not just plant a new hedge line just out side of this one and leave this?
I think it sounds like you may be planting too deep?

In my area, that would be a lot of money for plants.
I'd suggest some expert help. Maybe the county ag. Extension or a landscape architect?
Joe

The last of the snow melted away from the base of the shrubs today. With high temps pushing 50 all week long, the frost should be out by next weekend. Which is when my new Cat 1 3 point should be here for the Bolens. It will make for a good first test to pull out 45 shrubs. I love it when a plan comes together.